The idea of designating a Day of the year to celebrate migratory birds is not new. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology initiated celebrations of the ‘International Migratory Bird Day' over ten years ago. The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) launched the ‘Migratory Waterbird Days' (MWB) in Africa, Europe and parts of Asia in 2005, on the occasion of  its 10th Anniversary. However, although bird migrations occur worldwide, a global initiative was still missing.

Building on the success of the MWD, - an initiative very well received in the AEWA region -, AEWA together with its Mother-Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), inaugurated this year the ‘World Migratory Bird Day'. For the first time, national authorities and NGOs all over the world are encouraged to organize, on the weekend of 8/9 April, public events in support of the World Migratory Bird Day, including bird festivals, bird watching excursions and education programs in order to invite a wide public to witness the beauty of migrating birds and to learn about their ecological importance.

The launching event named "WINGS" will be hosted by Ms. Kuki Gallmann, renowned writer of nature and its wonders (her bestseller "Dreaming of Africa" became a Hollywood movie and hit few years ago), and conservationist in the Rift Valley of Kenya. ‘WINGS' will be an artistic and cultural show reflecting the symbolic value of birds and their historic and cultural significance to humans. During this event, Ms. Gallmann will be awarded the CMS Ambassadorship by Robert Hepworth, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), in recognition of her work to preserve wildlife and to promote the cause of migratory animals.